By Elias Birybarema
Oct 28, 2003 - Monitor
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KAMPALA � Dr Crispus Kiyonga has written to the Uganda Peoples Congress saying it is considering the party�s terms set before talks on political pluralism can begin. UPC set conditions last week that government should meet before the party talks with the government�s consultative team. Kiyonga, the national political commissar, wrote to UPC on October 22. He was responding to an earlier letter by UPC�s Presidential Policy Commission boss James Rwanyarare, spelling out the party�s terms for talks. �The proposals you have put in the letter will be considered,� Kiyonga wrote Dr Rwanyarare. UPC is demanding a clear agenda and a neutral person to chair the talks, in its October 20 letter. �Government must demonstrate its goodwill by stopping harassment of members of the opposition,� Rwanyarare wrote. Kiyonga announced the government team two weeks ago. It is to consult with opposition groups on the roadmap to political pluralism. UPC says the roles of the army and intelligence services, especially toward the opposition, must be spelt out and should conform to the Constitution. UPC also wants government to repeal or amend �constitutional and legal obstacles to the restoration of multiparty democracy in Uganda. In particular articles 67-74 of the Constitution, the Movement Act 1997, the Terrorism Act 2001 and Political Parties and Organisations Act 2002�. Kiyonga said UPC�s demands would be looked at alongside other views received from other involved parties. According to Kiyonga�s letter, the Movement is still �concretising the agenda for the meeting.� �The consultations are primarily to reach a consensus on the common good of the country,� he wrote. This is the first time the Movement is seemingly making concessions to the opposition�s proposals since President Yoweri Museveni voiced his support for a return to multiparty politics in January. Kiyonga, however, is not happy with the wider opposition fielding one team to discuss with government. Kiyonga is also opposed to calls for government to trim its team. He said numbers are not the most important issue. �This is a matter for each organisation to decide. We should all concern ourselves with the substance of issues�,� Kiyonga wrote. |
� 2003 The Monitor Publications
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